The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-03-17
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
Bitter Review Of the Supreme Courts
Late Decision.
4 Cennissisn Proposed to Renen-
strste with State Creditors,



RICHMOND, Va, March 16.-Pursuant
10 the 00vern0r's call the General As
ssinbly Of Virginia met here to-day at
noon in extra session. Both Houses
promptly organized and joint commit
tsesvas appointed to notify the Governor
that che Legialature was ready for busi-
me- Soon thereafter message from
the Executive was received and read.
He first calls attention to the present
coalition Of the State debt and to the
recent decision Of the Supreme Court OF
the United States in reference to the law
imposing a tax ON sample merchants.
He next urges the reception OF the work
Of. the revisers OF the code and then re-
commends a proper provision for the
maintainance of the insane, etc. The
Governor opens the debt question by
saying: -
Every attempt to effect final set
tlement of the debt by the Legislature
has always been accompanied with en-
harrsssments." He then mentions va
rious measures adopted. including the
funding bill Of 1871. which was thrown
aside by the people at the first opportu-
nifty afforded them to do 50; the McCul-
loch bill Of 1879 which too, received at the
polls the condemnation Of the majority
Of the voters, and finally the act Of Feb
ruary, 1882, 1.-THE Riddleberger bilD which
became . law ON the demand OF the party
which assumed the reins Of government
in ncunsequence Of their advocacy OF it,
all astsmpss by their political opponents
70 make any other settlement with the
States creditors having failed. A pledge
was finally given by them not 10 disturb
ar repeal the settlement thus decreed by
the majority of the voters and the pub
lie approval. The sentiment of that
settlsgment, a. it stands to-day,
has received no public disapproval either
by the conyentions Of the political party
or by Legislatures, 50 that it may be said
that the people, without reference to
party distinction, are Of one mind in
their resolution to uphold and maintain
it in all its integrity and by all lawful
means. The Governor reviews the wO-
full condition Of Virginia after she had
been made the battle ground of the con-
tending hosts for four years, and then
says: From statements carefully pre-
pared by the Auditor it appears that the
annual revenues for some years to come
will not exceed q, 100 900. and that if
the outstanding obligations OF the State
should be funded into bonds under the
Riddleberger bill, except those held
by institutions Of learning, the interest
tn be paid, added to the necessary annual
expenses, would about absorb this in
come. In the ability Of the State to
make settlement now with a greater
amount Of the principal and interest
than the Riddleberger Act, whatever she
might have done once, arises from the
increase in her annual expenses, such as
maintaining two additional Mnatic asy-
iums, one for white people, and one for
colored; maintenance Of a normal and
collegiate institute for our colored people
and school for the education Of our
female teachers; aid to the Confederate
Home for our poor and disabled soldiers,
over whose shoulders rests no mantle of
the Governments protection: assistance
to citizens Of the State who have lost a
limb or an eye or have been seriously dis
sbled by wounds; increased expenses of
our criminal charges since the abolition
of the whipping post, and increased ap-
preparation to our public schools. These
are some Of the necessary obligations in
CURED, while in the same period the
State taxes have reduced"
THE STATES EXPENSES.
The Governor then gives q detailed es-
innate Of the annual expenses of the
Government about which he says ''that
il to the gross amount given is added the
smount Of interest which the Riddleber-
ger bunds carry, the present revenue Of
the State will be absorbed. There are
two methods only by which she can pay
. greater amount Of interest than the
settlements calls for, viz, by reduction
oe the present expenses or by an increase
Of pxesent revenues"
Then follows an account Of the failure
a I'll efforts to popularize the coupons in
the State and the statement that in view
of he decision Of the United States SUI
preme Court additional legislation is nee
essary to enable the State to collect the
revenue in money. In this connection
the Governor says: I'VE should not,
however. forget here in Virginia that
though the decision Of the Supreme
Court, which stripped Virginia Of her
sovereignty, guaranteed by the Eleventh
Amendment to otheConstitution. was made
by . majority of one in q court Of nine
Judges, and that member Of that court
did not hesitate to say, with the concur
renee Of three others. including the Chief
Justice. that it WAS the first time since the
Eighteenth Amendment WAS adopted in
which q State had been coerced by judi
ciai proceedings at the instance of indi-
viduals in the General Court, and in his
opinion none Of those suits could he
maintained for the reason that they are
in sum and substance and effect suits
against the State Of Virginia. yet it has
the binding elRecs and the force a de-
cision unaninously cuncurrsd in by the
fsll court, and - the Constitution i
10 the supreme lsw a the lard and. ID
neceessary, musa be supported BY the
Presidents with the strong hand Of Fed
eral power. Nor do see how the prohi
bitiOa of Tie Federal Constitution, thai
no STATE shall pa~ any law impaiFinl
the obligation Of any contract, cen b
~wu<2nS2 hv 0vsuv~ Nine . r,.nlysfvsnu uuxsvia
i'm apun Tie Constitution of the Sease